Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer
and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Rune Factory
2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the Nintendo DS has officially shipped to retail
for an MSRP of $29.99. The Rune Factory series combines the fun and rewarding
gameplay of Harvest Moon with the fantasy and excitement of an action-RPG,
offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best of both worlds.
Rune Factory 2 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

"We are thrilled to finally bring
Rune Factory 2 to our fans who have been eagerly awaiting its launch," said Hiro
Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "Rune Factory 2 builds upon the elements
that made the first title a huge success, and expands the series' RPG elements
while offering beautiful graphics, innovative Touch Screen controls, and an
all-new, multigenerational plot."

Rune Factory 2 is set several years
after the first game. The evil Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom
of Norad is once again at peace. Things may not stay that way for long, however,
as strange disturbances in the earth warn that a great evil is stirring. It's up
to player to uncover this new threat to the land and bring peace to the kingdom
once more. Over the course of the story, players will build and develop a farm,
befriend townspeople, raise monsters, take on quests, and find a wife.

In a first for the Rune Factory
series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is multigenerational. Players begin the game
as Kyle, a strange man who comes to Alvarna Village.

Eventually, players will take on the
role of Kyle's child, opening up a whole new adventure. It's an innovative
feature that allows players to follow the story of their family and the
townsfolk over two generations!